"I know! Ye all seek leave to loot! As sons of THALUKDARS [Footnote: Land holder]--as trusted soldiers of the raj--as brave men--honorable men--ye seek to prove yourselves!" They gasped at him--all of them, Tugendheim included.

I tell you he was a brave man to stand and throw that charge in the teeth of such a regiment, not one man of whom reckoned himself less than gentleman.

I looked to my pistol and made ready to go and die beside him, for I saw that he had chosen his own ground and intended there and then to overcome or fail.
"Lately but one thought has burned in all your hearts," he told them.

"Loot! Loot! Loot! Me ye have misnamed friend of Germany--friend of Turkey--enemy of Britain! Yourselves ye call honorable men!" "Why not ?" asked Gooja Singh, greatly daring because the men were looking to him to answer for them.

"Hitherto we have done no shameful thing!" "No shameful thing ?" said Ranjoor Singh.